Valve



C. JOHNSON Sept. 15, 1936.

VALVE Original'Filed Feb. 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

INVENTOR Clarence Johnson.

BY 1f M ATT RNEY Sept. 15, 1936.

a A M Hull 5 n W s n m 4 8% J LQE HHHHJHI W E 4 71m u m W M a 4 Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VALVE Clarence Johnson, Cleveland, Ohio, alslgnor to. Bailey Meter Company, a corporation of Delaware ms, Serial No. man

11 Claim. (Cl. 137-153) This invention relates to the art of regulation and provides improvements in control or regulat ing systems and apparatus. It is primarily concerned with hydraulic, pneumatic or fluid pressure operated systems and of a type wherein a pilot valve positioned or moved by a relatively weak control force, in turn controls the application of fluid pressure for producing or controlling an amplified force whereby useful work is accomplished.

The relatively weak control force for positioning the pilot may be derived from any variable quantity, condition, relation, etc., such, for example, as pressure, temperature, flow, or any physical, chemical, thermal, electrical, hydraulic, or other variable or relation of variables. It is not necessarily limited to positioning by such variables, but the pilot may be positioned by hand or in accordance with any movement to effect an amplified motion or positioning.

The present invention relates particularly to improvements in valves and constitutes a division of my application Serial No. 658,376, flied in the United States Patent Ofllce February 24, 1933, for Control systems. The present invention in connection with improvements in valves was flrst disclosed and described in said prior patent application as a pilot valve for controlling air under pressure as an actuating fluid in a combustion control system. Herein my description and showing relates primarilyto the features of the pilot valve described and illustrated in said prior application but not claimed therein, and I have chosen herein to illustrate and describe one type of control system merely as representative of usage of my improved pilot valve. According to my invention, the deflections of a Bourdon tube, galvanometer, or other device sensitive to the instantaneous magnitude of a variable or to a relation, or to a position, may be utilized to control a fluid pressure system and by suitable fluid pressure actuated devices controlled by the pilot valve so positioned, may provide an amplified force for controlling, the operation of dampers, valves, etc. to eifect a positioning or a control.

The positioning or control so effected of dampers, valves, or other apparatus, may react to ef-- feet the value of the variable which initiated the control, or may not, as desired.

In carrying out my invention in preferred form, I utilize air under pressure as a pressure fluid which is controlled by a pilot valve for positioning pistons or other apparatus. However, it is not necessary that air be used, as water, oil, or other pressure fluids may equally as well be used. I

have chosen, however, as a preferred embodiment to illustrate and describe my invention in connection with the usage of air under pressure.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved pilot valve for controlling the pressure fluid.

Another object is to provide a novel design of pilot valve relatively free of friction and having characteristics differing from those in the past known.

Further features of my invention will become apparent from the following description and from the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a somewhat diagrammatic representation of a vapor generator and a furnace draft control therefor to which the invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation to enlarged scale of the pilot valve of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation to enlarged of a pilot valve.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of a portionof Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged views of a portion of a pilot valve assembly showing modifications in form of the pilot.

Referring first to Fig. 1, I show therein a steam generating boiler I having a furnace 2 to which fuel, such as oil, is fed through a pipe 3, and air to support combustion is drawn in around a burner 4. The gaseous products of combustion pass from the boiler through an uptake or duct 5. Steam generated in the boiler passes therefrom through a conduit 6 to any point of usage (not shown).

I desirably control the positioning in the duct ,5 of a damper I to vary the suction upon the combustion chamber -2, and thereby control the absolute pressure within the furnace or combus tion chamber.

For positioning the damper i I provide a piston 8 cooperating in a cylinder 9 and having a piston rod i0 connected for movement. of the damper. The cylinder 9 and related parts are pivotally supported at II, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

For a motive fluid utilized in positioning the piston 8, I use compressed air, although such pressure fluid might easily as well be water, oil, or any desirable and well known type of fluid. At the various points throughout the drawings where air under pressure is available, I indicate the scale 20 broken ends of said supply pipes by the designs.- I 7 tion A. I do not feel that it is necessary to show that these various supply points A lead to a com- (i5 pressor or storage tank, or other source of supply, for such is a well known expedient.

I illustrate diagrammatically at l2 a diaphragm properly supported and encased in a manner that (in the drawings) the left hand side of the diaphragm I2 is subjected to atmospheric pressure, while the right hand side of the diaphragm is subjected to, absolute ,pressure ,eifective through a pipe I3 from a desirable location ins] the furnace 2. That is, I locate through the ,wall of the furnace 2 an end of the pipe l3 at any elevation or point in the furnace 2 whereat' I desire to maintain a predetermined absolutepressure. This arrangement provides that a tliii'erential pressure will be effective. upon, thefdiaphragm i2 representative of the absolute pressure at a location'within the. furnace 2 relative to the pressure of the; atmosphere. I Connected to the diaphragm I2I' show a is passing through the diaphragm casing'and pivotally Joined to a bell crank II which is pivotally connected at its elbow on a pivot II to a portion of the diaphragm s upport. Variations in differential pressureeffective upon the diaphragm i2 cause a horizontal positioning of the link I l for angular movemeri tf-of the bell'crank l5.

*Suspe'nd'ed from th'e'liorizontal arm of the bell crank i5 is a link l'l carrying at its lower end a pilot relative to a pilot casing IS. The pilotassembly is illustrated in greaterdetail in other figures of the drawings and comprise the principal features of my invention herein claimed. Also-carried by the horizontal portion of the bell '-crank 15 is one'end of a chain IS, the other end ofwhich is connected to an arm 20 of the piston iOd Ill. 1

' The operation is as follows: i

Assuming a condition of equilibrium wherein the pressure within the furnace 2 is as desired and the parts substantially as shown in the drawings. Now assume that for some reason the suction within the furnace 2 has increased thereby lowering the absolute pressure. The result is a movement of the diaphragm l2 toward the right," carrying with it the link I and positioning the bell crank iii in a counterclockwise direction around its pivot IS. The pilot stem i1 is lowered in the casing ll. Air from the source A is admitted through a pipe 2i to the cylinder 9 below the piston I, while air from above the piston 3 is bled through a pipe 22 to the atmosphere. The

\ result is an upward positioning of the piston 3 carrying with it the piston rod Iii, the arm 23,

' and positioning the damper I in a closing direction, whereby the effect of the stack upon the uptake 5 is decreased and the suction upon the furnace 2 is decreased.

Simultaneously, the end of the chain l3 fastened tothe arm 20 is raised, thus decreasing the weight effective upon the horizpntalarm of the bell crank II. The weight of the chain I! which is effective upon the bell crank l8, plus the force of the diaphragm upon the bell crank, are opposed by a counterweight 23 of fixed or adjust- -able value.

Thus a decrease in the amount of efl'ective chain is throughan upward movement of the arm 20 causes the counterweight 23 to be eifective in positioning the bell crank II in a clockwise direction whereby the pilot is positioned back to its original position and upward travel of the piston l is stopped.

. For every pressure within the furnace 2 there is 18 definite position of the'piston 8 and damper "I,

but the-adjustmentis such that the range of pressuraf -is' extremely small for full travel of the ential pressure effective upon the diaphragm I2, is Just counterbalanced by. the counterweight 23 with the pilot in a "neutral position. If such a balance of forces does not exist: then the pilot will not be in its neutral position and the piston 3 will move in one direction or the other, with a resultant change in weight of the chain l3 effective upon the bell crank it until such equilibrium does obtain.

At any. instant when equilibrium obtains and the pilot is in its neutral position, there is a substantially locked condition of the piston l, with 'equal pressureson Opposite sides of the piston. When the pilot moves in one direction or the other from its neutral position, then air at a pressure depending upon the amount of movement of the pilot from neutral, is effective upon one side of thepiston 8, while air from the other side of the piston is bled to the atmosphere. The

"particular. features and construction of the pilot valve assemblyfor accomplishing this result will be explainedin detail relative to the other figures of the drawings. v

I will now describe in detail the functioning and advantages of the pilot of Fig. 1 which I have shown to greatly enlarged scale and in sectional detail at Fig. 2, and a portion of which is shown at still greater scale and detail in Fig. 4.

As is common in this art, the pilot comprises a stem l'l having, enlargements 24, known as lands, positioned axially in the pilot casing l8 relative to ports for controlling the passage of a pressure fluid therethrough. Air. under pressure is admittedto the interior of the pilot casing l8 from a point of supply A, and the positioning therein of the pilot I 1 controls air pressure in the discharge pipes 2l, 22. Within the casing i8 is a sleeve surrounding the pilot ll comprising in the.-present embodiment, four sleeve sections 25, 23, 21; 28, of substantially the same exterior and interior dimensions placed end-to-end within a central bore of the casing it. As illustrated clearly in Fig. 2, the sleeve sections 25, 23 are similar, and the sleeve sections 26, 21 are similar. Sections 25, 28 form a pair, as do sections 21, 28, and the two pairs of mating sections are urged apart by the coil spring 29. Over the end of the sections 25, 28 most remote from the center of the casing are screw threaded the caps 30, which tend, when screwed into place, to urge the sections 2!, 26 toward the sections 21, 23 against the action of the spring 29. The arrangement allows accurate machining of the sleeves 25, 28, 21, 28 before they are placed within the easing II, and accurate location of. the sleeves within the casing is through the arrangement of caps and the compression spring.

It will, of course, be understood that I might equally as well use any of the ports I designate as discharge ports for inlet ports and vice versa. For example, I might in certain systems have ports similar to 2|, 22 both connected to a supply A and utilize a single discharge port such as the one shown at the opposite side of the assembly. Furthermore, I might have any number of inlet and outlet ports in the same assembly with appropriatelands as required.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, which is an enlarged view of a portion only. of Fig. 2. I

illustrate the abutting part oi the sleeve sections 24; 23. I

In construction I preferably make the casing l8 of brass, the sleeve sections 23. 23, 21, 24 of nionel, and the, lands 24 of Enduro Km. or similar material. In clearance between the land or ball 24 and the interior of the sleeve sections I allow something in the nature of .0005 inch. The total axial movement of a pilot. such as H, may be in the nature of .005 inch.

Referring now specifically to Fig. 4, it will be seen that in the sleeve 26 adjacent the opening 22 is an annular groove 3| cut into the exterior of the section 26. At the upper end (Fig. 4) of the section 26 is an annular groove 32 and communication between the annular grooves 3i, 32 is established by one or more openings 33. The upper inner end of the sleeve 23 is relieved at 34, forming a thin annular opening for communication between the interior of the sleeve and the annular opening or passage 32. I

The land 24 is shown as spherical, although it may be formed of any desired contour, as will be later explained. This pilot has a number of features which distinguishes it clearly from those pilot valves now known in the art which are generally of a type controlling the quantity of fluid through the related ports, and are usually of a type which must be returned, either through movement of the pilot stem or of the pilot sleeve, to a shutoff position, in order that the functioning of the device as a whole will be accomplished in desired manner. The present pilot is in the nature of a positioning device, giving a definite loading pressure at the ports for each positioning of the pilot, rather than a quantity control of flow through the ports. It may, of course, be utilized in assemblies or constructions wherein it is desirably returned to an original or predetermined neutral position, and such arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 1.

Due to the slight amount of clearance between the greatest diameter of the land 24 and the interior of the sleeve portion, there will be a constant leakage or bleed of air from the supply A around the land and to the atmosphere through the caps 30. With the supply of air admitted between the two lands 24 (Fig. 2) there will be a constant bleed or leakage past each land and thus'an entirely balanced condition of pressure relative to the pilot stem I'I wherein no end thrust is produced in either direction. Furthermo' 'ellitvis a well known principle that a spherical,

c dr 'cal, conical, or similar shape of object,

piv ted held for free movement in a column of of thesleeve, prevents friction during axial movement. In reality, the valve member I! does not touch the sleeve at any point, and therefore is practically frictionless, as well as being, to a certain extent, lubricated by the air bleeding past it at all points of the periphery. Moreover, even though the member should not be properly aligned with respect to the sleeve and was not substantially centered in the column of bleed air, there would actually be nothing but a line contact at the greatest diameter of the land so that the friction would be extremely slight.

With a constant bleed of air past the lands 24 to the atmosphere and full supply pressure at the interior of the sleeve between the lands, there will be a definite gradation of pressure from the space 35, interior of the sleeve 23, and surrounding the stem i1, to the point of leastv clearance between the lands 24 and the sleeve, namely. the point of greatest diameter of the lands 24.

Surrounding the lands in the shown position is the narrow outlet or discharge port 34 which may be only a few thousandths of an inch in a dimension axial of the assembly. A definite air pressure will exist in the port 34, depending upon the axial positioning of the adjacent land 24 and for every point of such positioning (upward in Fig. 4) until full pressure of the space 35 is eii'ective at 22.

The arrangement is further characterized by the annular port 34 which is employed. Due to the principle of operation that a pressure is picked off along the land- 24, the port 34 must be of very small size relative to the land.' By having an annular port as shown, the width of the port may be decreased to a very few thousandths of an inch, while the total area for effectiveness of pressure is such width multiplied by the circumference at the point adjacent the land, or a substantial area opening. The annular port of this type has the further advantage in that there is no pressure reaction tending to throw the valve member to one side or the other of the sleeve.

All of these features of the arrangement combine to provide a pilot valve capable of being positioned within its casing with a minimum of effort. as-it has substantially a lubricated non-frictional movement with a minimum of end thrust. The control of pressure fluid by the pilot is in the nature of supplying to the port and part under control a pressure accurately depending upon the axial positioning of the pilot within its casing and wherein such pressure-position relationmay be definitely controlled by the shaping of the land 24. For example, the land 24 does not need to be spherical in shape but may be of a truncated conical section, such as is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

The pilots of Figs. 5 and 6 have the lands greatly elongated in a single direction or both directions from its point of maximum diameter, and with a very slow taper. This provides for a much greater axial movement of the pilot between minimum and maximum possible pressure of the pressure fluid. In other words, rather than a total movement of 'a few thousandths of an inch, as is desirable with the spherical type of land, the double conical, or single conical type, or one of substantially the same nature, may be designed for a total movement of thirty seconds. or even sixteenths of an inch, or more if desired. Within practical limits, the movement is dependent entirely upon the amount of taper.

At Fig. 3 I show an arrangement similar to that of Fig. 2, except that herein I illustrate the sleeve sections 21, 28 replaced by a single sleeve section 36 which serves the purpose of blanking oiT entrance to the discharge opening 31. I might equally as well have shown this with the blank sleeve 36 at the upper end of the assembly, blanking passage to 38. This arrangement of Fig. 3 allows the control of a pressure fluid to a single outlet without materially changing the parts, or assembly thereof, of the pilot valve as a whole.

The single outlet port pilot is utilized generally in a construction wherein the pilot stem I1 is not supplying a pressure fluid to a spring loaded diaphragm, piston, or other valve "wherein for every pressure applied to the diaphragm or piston,there is an opposing spring force and a deflnitepositioning of the valve.

In eneral, it maybe said that byproviding a constant bleed or leakage past the land 24 there is alwaysapressure gradient along the surface of the land from its maximum to its minimum diameter.

Such gradient will be between the pressure of atmosphere and the pressure of supply in the space 35. If, then, the pilot is moved axially relative to the port 34, then the port, ofvery thin annular dimension, will be opposite some point of the pressure gradient dependent upon the amount of axial movement of the pilot. This .may be readily seen if we assume that a pressure of air of 50 pounds gage exists in the space 3i, and the land 24 has its greatest diameter opposite the ports 34. Referring specifically to Fig. 4, there will be atmospheric pressure upward on the drawings from the land 24, while between thepoint of greatest diameter of the land and the space there will be a pressure gradient of from atmospheric to 50 pounds gage. It, now, the pilot is moved upward approximately one-half the distance between the shown position and the point where the land 24 merges into the stem l1, then there will be available at the port 34 a pressure approximately 25 pounds. In other words, for every upward movement of the land 24 relative to the port 34, there will be available at the port 34 a pressure of some value between atmospheric and 50 pounds. Thus, by vertical positioning of the pilot, a pressure directly-related to such positioning can be applied to the port 34.

While I have illustrated and described the present invention in preferred form and utilized in a single arrangement for control, it is to be understood that the pilot has many uses and may assume other forms, shapes, or arrangements than those which I have illustrated Furthermore, while Ihave described the present invention as utilizing air under pressure as a pressure fluid, it may equally as well be considered in connection with the use of oil, water, or any similar fluid which is controlled to provide an amplified power means in novel arrangement. In any event, it is to be understoodthat the showing is illustrative and that I am to be limited only by the claims in view of prior art.

Certain features of the general arrangement of Fig. l, are claimed in my copending divisional application Serial No. 82,768.

What I- claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A pilot valve comprising a casing having a passageway through which fluid continuously flows from a pressure supply, saidpassageway having an inlet port from the pressure supply, a bleed port to a region of lower pressure, and an outlet port intermediate said inlet and bleed ports, and a restricting means in said passageway adjacent the outlet port affording with the passageway an annular throat through which said fluid continuously bleeds to the region oi lower pressure, said restricting. means shaped to establish a pressure gradient throughout a portion of its leng h of a value of: from approximately that of the region of lower pressure to approximately that of the supply.

2. A pilot valve comprising a casing having a passageway through which fluid continuously always returned to a neutral position following a departure therefrom. It might be utilized in flows from" a pressure supply, saidpassageway having an inlet port from the pressure supply,

La bleed portgtb 'a region-of lower pressure,'and an outlet port intermediate said inlet and bleed ports, a restricting means in said passageway adiacent the outletport aifording witlrthe passageway anan'nular throat through which said of the region of-lower pressure to approximately thatoi the supply, and means for moving said restricting means relative to the outlet port to vary the loading pressure available at the said port.

3. A pilot valve comprising a casing having a passageway provided with. an inlet port from a fluid pressure supply. a bleed port communicating with a region of lower pressure, and an outlet port intermediate the inlet and bleed ports;

and means in said passageway and adjacent said outletport for restricting the flow of fluid from the inlet port to the bleed port to provide a continuous bleed of fluid through the bleed port to the region of lower pressure and a pressure gradient in said passageway adjacent said outlet port of a value of from approximately that of the region of lower pressure to the approximate pressure of the supply. a

4. A pilot valve comprising a casing having a passageway provided with an inlet port from a fluid pressuresupply, a bleed port communicating with a region of lower pressure, and an outletport intermediate the inlet and bleed ports; means in said passageway and adjacent the outlet port for restricting the flow of fluid from the inlet port to the-bleed port to provide a continuous bleed of fluid through the bleed port to the region of lower pressure and a pressure gradient in said passageway adjacent said outlet port of a value of from approximately that oi the region of lower pressure to the approximate pressure of the supp y; and means for moving the restricting means relative to said outlet port to vary the loading pressure available at the said p rt.

5. A pilot valve comprising a casing having an elongated passageway provided near one end with an inlet port from a fluid pressure supply and having a bleed portnear the opposite end communicating with atmosphere, and an annular outlet port located between the inlet and bleed ports; and means in said passageway and adjacent the annular outlet port for restricting the flow of fluid from the inlet port to the bleed port to provide a continuous bleed of fluid through the bleed portto atmosphere and a pressure gradient in said passageway adjacent said annular outlet port of a value of from approximately atmosphericpressure to the approximate pressure of the supply. I

6. A pilot valvecomprising a casing having a passageway provided with an inlet port from a' fluid pressure supply, a bleedport communicating with atmosphere, and an out et port intermediate the inlet and bleed ports; and means in said passageway adjacent the outlet port for restricting the flow of fluid through the passageway. the surface oi said restricting means being spaced from the walls defining-the passageway whereby the fluid will continuously leak past the restricting means through the bleed: portand to atmosphere to center the restricting means with? I in the eway and to provide against-possible friction between said restricting means and passageway walls, said restricting means being shaped to provide a pressure gradient in said passageway adjacent the outlet port of a value -of from approximately atmospheric pressure to the approximate pressure of the supply.

7. A pilot valve comprising a casing having a passageway provided with an inlet port from a fluid pressure supply, a bleed port communicating with atmosphere, and an outlet port intermediate the inlet and bleed ports; a valve within said passageway adjacent the outlet port for restricting the flow of fluid through said passageway, said valve having a maximum diameter slightly less than the diameter of the passageway whereby the fluid will continuously leak past the valve through the bleed port and to atmosphere to center the valve within the passageway and to provide against possible friction between said valve and the walls defining the passageway, said valve tapering from its maximum diameter to a lesser diameter to provide a pressure gradient in said passageway adjacent the outlet port of a value of from approximately atmospheric pressure to the approximate pressure of the supply; and means for moving said valve relative to the outlet port to vary the loading pressure available at the said port.

8. A pilot valve comprising a casing having a cylindrical passageway provided with an inlet port from a fluid pressure supply, a bleed port communicating with atmosphere, and an outlet port intermediate the inlet and bleed ports; a spherical valve member in said passageway and adjacent the outlet port, the maximum diameter or said spherical valve member being slightly less than the diameter of the passageway adjacent the outlet port, whereby the fluid will continuously leak past the valve to atmosphere, the spherical valve providing a pressure gradient in said passageway adjacent the outlet port 01' a value or from approximately atmospheric pressure to the approximate pressure of the supply; and means for moving said spherical valve relative to said outlet port to vary the loading pressure available at the said port.

9. A pilot valve comprising a casing having a eway through which fluid flows from spaced inlet and outlet ports extending from said passageway to the exterior or the casing, a valve within said way, and means to move the valve to control the flow oi fluid through the outlet port, the surface of the valve beins spaced from the wall defining the passageway whereby the fluid will continuously leak past the valve to center the same within the passage and to provide against possible friction between the valve and walls defining the passageway, said casing having a bleed port beyond the outlet port to permit continuous escape of said leaking fluid.

10. A pilot valve comprising a casing having a passageway provided with an intermediate inlet port from a fluid pressure supply, bleed ports at opposite ends of the passageway communicating with atmosphere, and spaced outlet ports positioned between the inlet port and each of the bleed ports; a stem passing through said passageway and having spaced land portions thereon, each of said land portions located adjacent one of the outlet ports and adapted to restrict the flow of fluid from the inlet port through the bleed ports to atmosphere, said lands being spaced from the walls defining the passageway whereby the fluid will continuously bleed past the lands and through the bleed ports to atmosphere and said lands shaped to provide a pressure gradient in said passageway adjacent each of the outlet ports of a value of from approximately atmospheric pressure to the approximate pressure of the supply; and means for moving the stem and its land portions relative to the outlet ports to vary the loading pressure available at the said ports.

11. A pilot valve comprising a casing having a passageway provided with an inlet port from a fluid pressure supply, a bleed port communicating with atmosphere, and an outlet port intermediate the inlet port and bleed port; two sleeve sections having a cylindrical interior bore and adapted to flt within the passageway in end to end relation, the outer end of one 01' said sleeve sections communicating with the inlet port and the outer end of the other sleeve section communicating with' the bleed port, the adjacent inner ends of said sleeve sections being slightly spaced to provide a relatively narrow annular discharge opening in communication with the outlet port; and means within said sleeve sections and adjacent the said annular discharge opening for restricting the flow or fluid from the inlet port through the bleed port to atmosphere and shaped to provide a pressure gradient in said sleeve sections adjacent said annular discharge opening of a value of from approximately atmospheric pressureto the approximate pressure of the supply.

CLARENCE JOHNSON. 

